Romancing My Love (Love in Bloom: The Bradens) Contemporary Romance Read online

  He walked her to the door and held his hand out again. Rebecca placed her hand in his.

  “Rebecca,” he began. “Your mother would be very proud of you.”

  Rebecca wasn’t taking care of their debts to make her mother proud. She knew her mother was proud of her regardless of the debt she’d incurred. She was making amends for her own peace of mind. Rebecca wanted—needed—to know that she could not only stand on her own two feet, but leave a good reputation in her wake. Her mother’s death didn’t define her, and she was determined that the circumstances they’d endured wouldn’t determine her future. She wasn’t, and she had no desire to be, the type of woman people pitied, or the type of woman whose poor station in life was written off as, Well, her mother died, you know, so cut her some slack.

  She wasn’t going to maintain a poor station in life, either. She just needed to find her niche. Everyone had one, and she wasn’t giving up on finding hers at twenty-seven.

  Back in her car, she pulled out her cell phone and was surprised to see a message from a number she didn’t recognize. She listened to the message and screamed, then covered her mouth and looked around the parking lot. She listened again just to be sure she had heard it correctly.

  “Hi, Rebecca. This is Chiara. Good news. We’d like to hire you for a waitressing position in the restaurant that I took you through. I know waitressing wasn’t your job of choice, but it’s a start, and since I know you are looking to start right away, if you’re interested in the position and are free this afternoon, stop by and we can complete the remaining paperwork.”

  Rebecca rested her head back. I can do this. I can SO do this!

  Waitressing. It was a start, and it was a job with a stable company and, she hoped, growth potential. With hope in her heart, she called Chiara and confirmed that she’d come by later that afternoon. She closed her eyes and breathed deeply, trying to quell the flutter of excitement that had her wishing she could tell her mother about her job. You already know, don’t you? She didn’t expect a sign or a whiff of her mother’s scent to know in her heart that her mother was pulling all the right strings.

  Not only was she going to find her niche, but why shouldn’t she enjoy the company of a man who set fire in her belly and made her heart come alive? She read his text again and responded with renewed hope.

  I’m not into sharing, so if Ronda shows up, I might have to kick her butt, too.

  Chapter Five

  REBECCA STOOD IN the lobby of the Astral resort beside a wide golden column. It was Friday evening and the lobby was much busier than it had been the evening before. The casino entrance was down a corridor to her left, and indiscernible, excited noises filtered down the hall. Women passed in droves, with spiky heels, perfectly coiffed hair, and makeup that looked professionally done. They were draped on the arms of handsome men wearing expensive suits and shoes that glistened from the overhead lights. Slicked-back hair and manicured eyebrows were apparently commonplace among the male casino patrons. There was a time when Rebecca would have felt out of place surrounded by such rich beauty, but after the first minute or two, she was able to see past the rush of insecure thoughts. She pulled back her shoulders and adjusted her mind-set—another skill she’d honed during the years of caring for her mother. Her adjusted perspective offered a different view of those glamour people. Now she saw insecure people flaunting their means too loudly, and when she turned those new lenses introspectively, she saw a confident woman who was on her way to sure footing. And it felt damn good.

  The twisting and turning in her stomach had nothing to do with being in the presence of the rich and maybe even some of the famous. Her nerves were knotting in anticipation of seeing Pierce and in excitement over her new job. She’d met with Chiara, and she’d met her new boss, Marlow Villada, and a few of the other people she’d be working with. Rebecca was no newbie to waitressing, but waitressing at the Astral was completely different from waitressing at IHOP and Ben’s Breakfast Bar. She was starting the job on Monday, and she needed to memorize the menu before then. It would take dedication and focus, but it was worth it. She’d already done the math in her head, and she’d be earning almost twice what she’d earned in the past, which meant that finding a reasonable place to live and paying back Mr. Fralin wasn’t out of the question. She’d thought she might try to rent from Mr. Fralin again, but after returning to the complex, she realized that it would be too painful to live there knowing that her mother would never walk through the door again. Rebecca was moving forward.

  She felt his hand on her shoulder and smelled his masculine, musky scent before she heard Pierce’s voice.

  “Sweet Rebecca.”

  She turned so fast she nearly smacked into him. “Hi. Sorry.” Oh God. He looked like he’d stepped out of one of those glossy magazines again. He carried his suit coat and tie over one arm, and the top buttons of his white dress shirt were undone, revealing a glimpse of the athletic body that lay beneath.

  He leaned in close and kissed her cheek. “Did I keep you waiting?”

  “No, not at all.”

  He smiled and it cut right through her. He had the greatest smile, a magical combination of friendly welcome and sweet seduction. He placed his hand on her lower back, as he’d done the evening before, and this time her body didn’t tense with nervous energy. She’d been thinking about his touch all day. This time she felt drenched in pleasure, and she longed for more.

  As they walked outside, he leaned in close again. “You look lovely.”

  She felt her cheeks flush. She loved how he moved close each time he spoke to her. It made his words feel that much more intimate. “Thank you.” Rebecca didn’t have many fancy clothes, but she was glad she’d changed after filling out the paperwork. She had a few short dresses that she knew were at least slightly fashionable, even if not high-end. Consignment shops were great for finding deals on nice clothing. Tonight she wore a heather-gray, off-the-shoulder dress with three-quarter-length sleeves. It was blousy up top and gathered at her waist. It was a little short, stopping just above midthigh, and with her heels, it looked more expensive than it was.

  “If that makes you blush, then I’m glad I didn’t say what I really felt.”

  Oh, please, make me blush.

  “Pierce.” A tall, blond-haired man reached for Pierce’s hand. “Man, it’s good to see you.”

  In a split second Pierce’s flirtatious eyes turned serious. He shook the man’s hand, his other hand never leaving her back.

  “Larry, it’s a pleasure.” He turned toward Rebecca. “This is my lovely date, Rebecca. Rebecca, this is my good friend Larry Hooper.”

  Rebecca loved that he didn’t hesitate to introduce her as his lovely date, but it felt practiced, and that stole a tiny piece of her joy.

  “It’s nice to meet you, Larry,” she said.

  “Enjoy your evening, Larry. We have plans, so we’d better go before we’re late.”

  She felt Pierce guiding her toward the valet. Anderson opened the door to a midnight-blue Jaguar. She’d wondered the other day if the gray Jaguar had been his, but he’d rushed her away from the valet so quickly she hadn’t been able to figure it out. Now she wondered if he owned two Jags.

  “Thank you,” she said as she slid onto the fine leather seat, squelching the first few seconds of feeling like she was way out of her league. Which she was, but her mother had taught her at a young age that leagues were only a frame of mind. Take away the cars and money and they’re just people, like you and me, niña.

  Her stomach fluttered at the prospect of being in such close proximity to Pierce. In an effort to quell her nerves, before Anderson closed the car door, and in earshot of Pierce, she joked, “If I go missing, please remember that he’s the last person I was seen with.”

  Anderson nodded. “As you wish, ma’am.” He slid Pierce a knowing smile and closed the door.

  Pierce climbed into the driver’s seat. “That was quite a statement. Do I look like a killer?”


  “A lady-killer, maybe.” She nervously ran her finger along the center console.

  He reached across the console and held her hand. “Does that mean you don’t trust me?”

  “If I didn’t trust you, I’d never get in your car. I just don’t have you all figured out yet.”

  “Well, a man can’t give away his hand in a few short hours, can he? You’ve got all night to figure me out, or at least I hope you do.”

  Oh, good Lord. So do I.

  “First things first. King’s Bar to get your paycheck?”

  “Oh my gosh. I have had such a busy day that I totally forgot.” She couldn’t believe he remembered. “Thank you for remembering, but if you’d rather not, I can get it another day.”

  “I’d rather.” He lifted her hand to his lips and kissed it.

  The kiss should have made her more nervous, but it had the opposite effect. It felt natural and right, which was pretty damn scary. How could riding in a Jaguar with a handsome guy feel right to a woman who was currently living in her car?

  A few minutes later, Pierce pulled up in front of King’s Bar. The Jaguar looked out of place on the dark street.

  “I’ll just be a minute.” Rebecca reached for the door.

  Pierce cut the engine. “I’m going with you.” He stepped from the car and came around to her side.

  “You really don’t have to.” She didn’t want him to see what a condescending ass Martin could be, or how she might have to handle him. She wasn’t afraid to speak her mind, and though Pierce had seen her deck a guy, he hadn’t seen her get up in a man’s face and tell him exactly what she thought of him. That was not the woman she wanted him to think she was. She’d only done what she’d had to do. All she wanted was a normal life. Was that too much to hope for? After tonight, she hoped to move forward, presenting a calmer image.

  “I want to.” He reached for her hand again.

  Rebecca looked at their hands. “Pierce, I really don’t need a babysitter. I know it’s chivalrous of you to want to be there, but…”

  He drew his brows together and stepped closer. “Rebecca, I’m not being chivalrous, although I do enjoy hearing the word connected to me.” He smiled and it made her smile, too. “If this guy was nasty enough to cause you to quit, then he’s probably not going to be very nice when you ask for your paycheck. I just don’t want it to be any more uncomfortable than it needs to be.”

  “I know, and thank you for that, but I’m a big girl. I can handle this on my own. Really.” She watched his jaw clench as he turned away and ran his hand through his hair.

  “How about I wait just inside the door?”

  “How about you just wait here?” She didn’t mean to sound so final, but she hadn’t ever needed a man to handle her affairs, and she wasn’t going to start now just because an incredibly gorgeous, kind, and generous, muscular man who smelled like heaven wanted her to. To soften the blow of her rebuttal—and because she was dying to—she touched his cheek.

  “Thank you for wanting to help, Pierce. Just give me five minutes, okay? If I’m not out in five, you can barge through the door and do whatever you have in mind.”

  “Are you sure you don’t know my sister?” He laughed. “She’s just as stubborn as you.”

  “I’m pretty sure we’d get along great, then. Thank you for wanting to help, Pierce.” She pulled the door open and headed inside, trying to ignore the tug of how good it felt to have someone offer to help her for a change. She wouldn’t let herself revel in those good feelings for long, though. She needed to look her most confident and serious when she approached Martin, not glinty eyed and swooning.

  Martin looked up from behind the bar as she approached. His beady eyes caught hers. Rebecca drew in a deep breath and met his snakelike stare.

  “I’m here for my paycheck.”

  “Well, well, if it isn’t chatty Cathy.” Martin laughed, and two men who were drinking at the bar looked her up and down.

  “Martin, I’m not here to play games. Just give me my check and I’ll get out of your bar and never look back.” She held his annoyingly amused gaze as he casually dried a glass and set it on a shelf behind him.

  He slung the towel over his shoulder and leaned his hands on the bar, motioning for her to come closer. “You decked a guy in here the other night and then took off. I could have gotten sued.”

  She rolled her eyes. “You didn’t. The check, Martin. Focus on what’s important.”

  He dropped his eyes to her breasts. “How about you come in the back room and we’ll talk about it?”

  How did I ever work for you? She’d been so desperate for employment that she’d ignored Andy’s warnings about working for Martin. Never again, she vowed. From here forward, she wasn’t going to settle—in any aspect of her life.

  “How about you get your scrawny ass into the back office and get my check before I go back, get the check myself, and leave you in worse shape than the guy from the other night?” She stomped toward the back office.

  He beat her to the office door and stepped in front of it, arms crossed, snake eyes returned. “Give me two good reasons why I should give you this check. You quit.”

  “I quit because you’re a pig who treats people like shit. That’s reason number one. Reason number two is that I earned it, and I’ll throw a third in there just for the heck of it. If you don’t give me my check, you can kiss your family jewels goodbye.”

  He scoffed.

  “Ugh. You’re an idiot.” She reached for the doorknob and he grabbed her wrist. “You have three seconds to let go of me.”

  “Right.” He narrowed his eyes.

  “She was being generous. I’ll give you one.”

  Rebecca spun around at the sound of Pierce’s deep, serious voice. His feet were set hip distance apart, arms crossed, and even in his dress slacks and dress shirt, he went from smoking hot to menacing in a fraction of a second.

  He stepped forward and said in the most calm, chilling voice Rebecca had ever heard, “You will release her wrist and give her the money that is owed to her or your next move will be made from the floor.”

  Martin dropped Rebecca’s wrist and she plowed into the office, grabbed her check from the paycheck box on his desk, and stormed from the bar, leaving Pierce and Martin behind. Her heart beat triple time as she paced the sidewalk, embarrassed and so damned pissed off that she could barely see straight.

  Pierce walked out a few minutes later and she felt his hand settle into its usual place on her back. She spun around, all the pieces of her perfect day crashed and shattered. Shards of the last ten minutes came at her from all angles. It was all she could do to stand there and look at him.

  “I asked you to stay outside.” She didn’t mean to yell.

  “I did. You said five minutes. I waited six.” His eyes ran over her face, and she turned away to keep from yelling again. “Rebecca, I’m sorry if I overstepped my bounds, but I’m not the kind of guy who can sit back and do nothing when I think some asshole is going to treat you badly.”

  She turned to face him again, teeth clenched, arms crossed over her chest. “I could have handled him.”

  “I’m sure you could have.”

  “Then why did you come in after me, Pierce? I don’t need saving.” Her body was trembling. Damn it. Tears of anger threatened to spill. Don’t cry. Do not fucking cry.

  “I’m sorry. Rebecca, I didn’t think you needed saving. I’m…” He narrowed his eyes. “Babe, you’re shaking. Did he hurt you?” He placed a hand gently on her arm, and she shrugged away again.

  “I’m not your babe, and no, he didn’t hurt me. I’m shaking because I’m angry.” Goddamn it. Way to ruin a good night. She drew in a deep breath as Pierce took a step back.

  “I’m a guy, Rebecca. It’s not my nature to be told to just let someone treat a woman badly.” He ran his hand through his hair as he’d done earlier. “I was trying to help. That’s all.”

  “I know you were. I just…I could have handled him
. Now he thinks I couldn’t have.” That was the worst part. She was ten times stronger of a person than Martin and about a zillion times more respectful and appropriate. She hated looking weak in front of him, or that he thought she needed a fricking bodyguard.

  Pierce held his hands up. “You’re right. I’m sorry.”

  “Ugh. You don’t have to be sorry. What you did was nice. Thank you. I just…I don’t need a savior.” Rebecca wiped her eyes and shook out her hands, as if that might loosen the constriction in her chest.

  Pierce lowered his voice and closed the distance between them. “You’re right. I guess I’m used to a lot of things that are different from what you’re used to, and I’m not used to women—other than my sister and maybe my cousin Savannah—who can take on guys like that. It was my issue, not yours, and I’ll be sure to try to check my urge to help at the door from now on.”

  She crossed and uncrossed her arms, feeling like an utter fool. He was being nice and she was acting like a bitch.

  “God, Pierce. I’m sorry.” She sighed loudly. “You can take me back to my car. I…You don’t need someone like me in your life. Look at you. You’ve got your life together, and I’m just starting to piece mine back together. I overreacted and, honestly, I have no business going up against a guy like Martin even if I am capable of it. The guy’s an ass. I wish I was in a position to have just left without my check, but I’m not. I probably never will be, and that’s okay, but I don’t want to be the type of woman who makes you wonder what the hell she’s going to do next. I’m really not a rampant crazy woman who hits men or tells them off.”

  “I don’t think of you in that way.” His voice was so sincere it softened her anger.

  She looked up at the sky and closed her eyes for a second while she mentally pulled herself back together.

  “I don’t think of myself in that way either,” she admitted. “Really. I’m not that person. I mean, I am if I have to be, and unfortunately, you’ve witnessed two terrible situations in as many days, but really, I’m just a girl who lost her mother and wants to get on with her life. I want to finish school, land a job I love, and I don’t know, have some modicum of a life far away from places like this.”